ProtectingAmerica.org Honors Louisiana Family Recovery Corps as 'American Hero'

(Baton Rouge, LA) ProtectingAmerica.org today welcomed the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, as a member of the nation’s largest coalition of first responders, business, non-profits and individuals committed to improving the way we as a nation prepare for and protect our communities against the onslaught of catastrophe. 

ProtectingAmerica.org today recognized the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps as part of its 'American Heroes' campaign, marking the first time that the honor has been bestowed upon an organization.

ProtectingAmerica.org’s 'American Heroes' campaign recognizes individuals and organizations that are committed to advancing preparedness, supporting first responders, and instituting programs to improve protection and mitigation from natural disasters. As part of the honor, the Recovery Corps received a $2,500 grant from the coalition.

'We look forward to working with Recovery Corps, particularly to learn from their experience and support their continuing efforts in the Pelican State.  Together, we will work to increase public awareness and enhance consumer education, advocate for better coordination with local, state and federal mitigation and recovery efforts, and strengthen emergency response and financial mechanisms to rebuild after a major catastrophe,' said Brad Brewster, Executive Director of ProtectingAmerica.org.

The Recovery Corps was recognized for its leadership role in coordinating and delivering humanitarian services and assistance in Louisiana in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike, as well as for its ongoing efforts to better position the state and the nation in preparing long-term human recovery strategies post-evacuation and sheltering in the aftermath of a catastrophic event. A leading non-profit in Louisiana, the Recovery Corps continues its efforts to support disaster-impacted Louisiana citizens by executing proprietary outcome-based programs designed to provide direct assistance to Louisiana families, coordinating the resources and service provision of the non-profit sector in the wake of disasters, and assisting the state and federal governments in preparing for the aftermath of catastrophic events by creating and enacting state and federal long-term human recovery plans that are strategically aligned among the governmental, non-profit, and private sectors.

'The Recovery Corps is honored to be recognized nationally for the work we have done on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana,' said Dr. Monteic A. Sizer, President and CEO of the Recovery Corps. 'Mr. James Lee Witt and Admiral James Loy have built a strong coalition of first responders, disaster relief experts, private organizations, and emergency management officials that share a similar vision as that of the Recovery Corps as it relates to protecting the citizens of Louisiana and the country and preparing them for future catastrophic events. We look forward to working alongside ProtectingAmerica.org as we mutually seek to advance state and federal disaster planning policies, strategies, and legislation.'

About ProtectingAmerica.org
ProtectingAmerica.org was formed in 2005 and is a non-profit organization consisting of emergency management officials, first responders, disaster relief experts, insurers, and others.  Its members include the American Red Cross, the International Association of Fire Fighters, more than 300 other organizations and businesses, and more than 20,000 individuals from across the nation.

The non-partisan organization is chaired by James Lee Witt and Admiral James M. Loy.  Mr. Witt served for eight years as the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Admiral Loy was formerly the deputy secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security and formerly served as commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

About the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps
The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps (www.recoverycorps.org) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation based in Baton Rouge, La., and formed in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The Recovery Corps’ mission is to facilitate human recovery for the state of Louisiana in the aftermath of disaster, both natural and man-made. The Recovery Corps has partnered with human service and non-profit organizations throughout the state and the country to deliver assistance as effectively and efficiently as possible, allocating more than $80 million to recovery efforts and assisting more than 30,000 households since January 2006.

The Recovery Corps has been recognized by Louisiana Act 313 of the 2007 Louisiana Legislature as the state's coordinating body for human recovery resources and services post-evacuation and sheltering and also plays a vital role in the state's Emergency Operation Plan as devised by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

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